For a first trip, stay in a district with good train access and a feel that suits you. Shinjuku and Shibuya give you nightlife and many lines. Asakusa gives you an old-town feel and quieter evenings. Ginza and the Tokyo Station area give you shopping and easy access to the shinkansen. There is no single best choice, so compare your plans with the points below.
Start with your plans
Write down the three places you most want to visit, and the evenings you want to spend out. If you plan to go to Kyoto or Osaka by shinkansen, a hotel near Tokyo Station or Shinagawa saves time. If you plan night trips to bars and live shows, choose a district with late trains and short walks home.
Compare the districts
| District | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku | Many train lines, big shops, late nights | Busy streets and crowded stations |
| Shibuya | Youth fashion, nightlife, the famous crossing | Can be loud until late |
| Asakusa | Temples, old streets, quiet evenings | Fewer late options, and a longer ride to some areas |
| Ginza and Tokyo Station | Shopping, shinkansen access, calm streets at night | Hotels can be more expensive |
Compare hotels by the station exit, not only by the district name. A hotel five minutes from one exit can be far from another. Look at the map on the booking page.
Shinjuku: the busiest hub
Shinjuku station is one of the busiest in the world, and it connects to many lines. You can reach most parts of the city from here. The west side has tall hotels and quieter streets. The east side has bars, shops and restaurant lanes.
Shibuya: energy and nightlife
Shibuya is the district for crowds, shopping and late nights. Many visitors like it for the first evening. It is a short ride from Shinjuku. Shibuya can be noisy, so ask for a room away from the main road if you need sleep.
Asakusa: old town, quiet nights
Asakusa has Senso-ji, Tokyo's best-known temple, and many small shops on the streets leading to it. It is a good base for seeing old Tokyo. The evenings are calmer, and many places close earlier. Check the lines you need, because the transfers can take longer than in Shinjuku.
Ginza and Tokyo Station: shopping and the shinkansen
Ginza is a shopping district with department stores, galleries and wide streets. Tokyo Station is the main stop for the shinkansen to Kyoto and Osaka. A hotel near the station is useful if you travel on a long day. The area is calmer at night than Shibuya, and it has many restaurants.
Value for money
Hotels in Tokyo vary a lot in size and in what they include. Some small business hotels have small rooms but a good station close by. Some larger hotels include breakfast and a view. Decide what you need most: a bed close to a station, a quiet room, or a bathroom you can relax in. Compare the total on the booking page, including any service charge and tax, before you choose.
Common mistakes
- Booking by the map. A hotel that looks close may be far from the exit you need.
- Choosing a name, not a line. A district can be famous and still have a slow train link to the places you want.
- Forgetting the last train. Check the last train from the area you plan to visit, especially after a late show.
- Skipping the room view. A quiet room on a back street can be better than a loud room on a main road.
Check first
Check first: the station exit and the walk from the hotel to the nearest line, on the map of the hotel's booking page. Check the cancellation rules and the check-in time before you pay. Check the rail operator's app for the route to your next city.
What to do next
Use the planner to match your stay to your plans. Read the Tokyo page for the city, and the Shinjuku area guide and the Asakusa area guide for more detail.
See also: Shibuya and Harajuku guide, Tokyo Station and Ginza guide.
